The University of Florida’s Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education announced Monday that it hired 20 new faculty members as it continues its expansion into a standalone academic unit, bringing its faculty count to 53.
The additions come as student enrollment at the school reaches 1,340, with university officials projecting that number will rise to 1,500 by the start of the fall semester. The new faculty brings background in political science, history, economics, and philosophy. Several of the hires previously held appointments at institutions including Harvard, Princeton and Stanford.
“The Hamilton School is moving forward at lightning speed to hire top-flight faculty who are providing an outstanding educational experience for our students,” said Mori Hosseini, UF Board of Trustees chair. “The University of Florida is leading the way in creating a model of classical education that other institutions will soon be emulating.”
Among them is James Hankins, a Renaissance historian and Harvard professor, who is co-authoring a textbook on Western civilization with Hamilton professor Allen Guelzo. Hankins is currently a visiting scholar and is expected to join full time in 2026. Other appointments include Jeremy Bailey, a constitutional scholar from the University of Oklahoma; Samuel Goldman, a political theorist previously at George Washington University; and Andrew Michta, an international relations expert and former dean at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies.
Robert G. Ingram, the school’s interim director, said the hires allow the school to broaden its course offerings and reinforce its academic foundation. Some faculty will begin teaching this academic year, while others are set to arrive in 2026.
“This latest cohort of faculty, including Harvard’s Jim Hankins, helps us both deepen and expand our curricular offerings for UF undergraduate and graduate students,” Ingram said. “With these new hires, Hamilton cements its standing as one of the best places in the world to study the principles, ideals and institutions of Western and American civilization.”
